DEAR ABBY: I have been focused on a girl for a number of years. Throughout that point, I have dated her and helped her along with her home. Right this moment she known as and requested me to walk her canine. I needed to decline as a result of I couldn’t match it in. She sent me two emails, back-to-back: 

“Thanks, Fred, however one factor I’m positive of — anybody who isn’t a buddy of my canine is not any buddy of mine. The place’s your Christian service now? I don’t need you to examine on my canine or me ever! You might be a egocentric man who couldn’t take a five-minute drive on a 60-degree day, and I hope I gained’t hear from you ever once more. I want you all one of the best. Get pleasure from sitting round caring for you, your self. Bye.” 

And, “A real buddy would examine on my canine and lock all of the doorways after, so don’t go close to my home or residence. You aren’t a man I need round. You suppose you’re higher than you might be.” 

What do I do and the way do I take this? — CONFUSED IN COLORADO

DEAR CONFUSED: As a result of that is how your self-centered girl buddy reacted once you informed her you couldn’t come when she whistled, it’s a disgrace — on your sake — that she didn’t say it years in the past. What it’s best to do now’s take her emails to coronary heart. Comply with her directions to the letter and don’t let her hear from you once more. She’s unhealthy information, and you are able to do higher. Significantly better.

DEAR ABBY: My spouse handed greater than a 12 months in the past, and I am seeing a girl whose husband died 5 years in the past. “Helen” had been going out along with her boyfriend, “Harry,” for 2 years, however he lately developed most cancers and handed away. 

We’ve grown shut, however I have a downside. Once we are in a romantic scenario, Helen will name me “Harry.” When it occurs, it’s upsetting, and I get defensive. I have a actually arduous time coping with being known as her final boyfriend’s identify. Typically I suppose I ought to walk away. What ought to I do? — MISIDENTIFIED IN FLORIDA

DEAR MISIDENTIFIED: When you care about Helen, acknowledge that she spent two years with expensive, departed Harry, and cease taking it personally if she slips and calls you by his identify as soon as in a whereas. It’s regular, and with time, it is going to cease taking place.

DEAR ABBY: I am a 65-year-old male, and I lately went out of city on enterprise with a 28-year-old male coworker. Throughout the complete dinner, he continued trying up stuff and responding to texts on his cellphone. He spoke to me solely a few occasions. When I tried to have interaction him in dialog, he would reply after which return to his telephone. 

I discovered his conduct impolite and insulting. I perceive the significance of telephones. If he had obtained an vital name or one from his spouse throughout dinner and spoke for a brief time, that might be superb. However when folks keep glued to their telephones all through dinner and the night, I suppose it’s impolite. What’s the protocol for these kind of conditions? — HANG UP IN ALABAMA

DEAR HANG UP: The right protocol is to place the cellphone away or not less than face down on the desk throughout dinner. By failing to do this, your coworker sent you the unmistakable message that he wasn’t focused on something you might need needed to debate with him. Until he was far behind in answering his work emails, I agree that his conduct was simply plain impolite.

Expensive Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, often known as Jeanne Phillips, and was based by her mom, Pauline Phillips. Contact Expensive Abby at DearAbby.com or P.O. Field 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.